Full-Scale Construction Begins for Gwangju Ecological Cultural Village Development Project

Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "We Will Actively Support to Become a Model Village"

On the afternoon of the 17th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gwangju Ecological Cultural Village Development Project held in Chunghyo-dong, Buk-gu, and participated in the first digging with guests. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] On the afternoon of the 17th, Gwangju Metropolitan City held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gwangju Ecological Cultural Village Development Project at a site near Gwangju Lake Ecological Park. The event was attended by Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop, Gwangju City Council Vice Chairman Jo Seok-ho, City Council Environment and Welfare Committee Chairperson Shin Su-jeong, city and district council members, Moon In, Buk-gu District Mayor, Chae Jeong-gi, Standing Chairman of the Mudeungsan Protection Organizations Council, Heo Min, Standing Director of the Mudeungsan Illegal Development Prevention Public-Private Council, various Mudeungsan organizations, and local residents.

The groundbreaking ceremony, conducted in strict compliance with COVID-19 social distancing and quarantine guidelines, proceeded in the order of opening declaration and national ceremony, project progress explanation, complex development plan report, commemorative speeches, congratulatory speeches, and groundbreaking.

The Gwangju Ecological Cultural Village Development Project involves an investment of 39.8 billion KRW (13.8 billion KRW from the national government and 26 billion KRW from the city government) to develop a 143,631㎡ site. The project includes ▲ Wonhyosa Commercial Relocation Complex (56 lots), ▲ UNESCO Global Geopark East Asia Platform (6,800㎡), ▲ Fusion Hanok Accommodation Healing Village, and ▲ a landscape complex (39,325㎡) designed to resemble terraced rice paddies of the existing terrain. The project is scheduled for completion by December next year.

Upon completion, the Gwangju Ecological Cultural Village is expected to become a representative attraction where people weary from daily life can stay, regain health and vitality, and experience the charm and flavors of Gwangju by blending the pristine natural ecological environment with Gwangju’s culture and arts.

In particular, when combined with the Mudeungsan Ecological Exploration Center and the surrounding natural ecology and tourist zones, it is anticipated to become a stay-type tourist destination attracting 600,000 visitors annually.

Additionally, with the demolition and relocation of the aging Wonhyosa commercial area established in 1982, it will be possible to restore the deeply damaged sections of Mudeungsan after 40 years, marking a major turning point in the restoration of Mudeungsan’s ecological environment.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop stated, “The Gwangju Ecological Cultural Village is significant as the nation’s first case where the National Park Service and local governments cooperated to relocate commercial facilities within a national park to its outskirts.”

He added, “As the first project of the ‘Art City Gwangju Policy,’ which involved Gwangju’s chief architects and public architects, the Ecological Cultural Village will boldly break away from conventional architectural frameworks to present excellent designs that are future-oriented and embody Gwangju’s uniqueness and distinctiveness. This will serve as a new model and vision for Gwangju’s landscape.”

He further stated, “We will actively support the Gwangju Ecological Cultural Village to become a representative village unique to Gwangju where people can see, enjoy, and taste only in Gwangju. We will also strive to improve the living conditions of residents in Chung-hyo-dong.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.